DAVE ELLEFSON Says Metal Fans “Could Be Crucified And Shot Execution-Style” If They Admitted To Liking NIRVANA In The Early 90s

In a latest dialogue on the X5 Podcast, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson shared his insights on the seismic shift within the music trade throughout the early Nineties, when grunge music emerged and dramatically modified the panorama for laborious rock and metallic bands. Reflecting on his experiences, Ellefson vividly recounted the affect of this period on Megadeth and their contemporaries.

Ellefson recalled the pivotal second in 1991 when, amidst engaged on Megadeth‘s one materials, he heard Nirvana on the radio for the primary time.

“I lived in L.A. So, coming off Rust In Peace — that is in 1991; we’re beginning to write Countdown To Extinction, and I keep in mind driving down the freeway, and KNAC was the massive rock station. And I keep in mind listening to — is it a music referred to as ‘Breed’? And I used to be, like, ‘That’s fucking badass. What an amazing music.’ After which it seems it was Nirvana. And I preferred Nirvana. I assumed they had been cool. I cherished their sound. I completely acquired it. And it was mainly unlawful for a metallic man to say you preferred Nirvana. I imply, you could possibly be mainly crucified and shot execution-style if you happen to stated that. So it was not allowed for any of us to say that,” he remembered (as transcribed by Blabbermouth)

The rise of grunge, spearheaded by bands from Seattle, led to a speedy decline within the reputation of hair bands and conventional metallic on media platforms like MTV. Ellefson famous: “I assume we acquired caught slightly bit in it. After we put out the Youthanasia file, our first single ‘Practice Of Penalties’ was properly acquired. ‘À Tout Le Monde’ was not. After which they only mainly turned the channel. In fact, Metallica reduce their hair. They began altering their sound slightly bit — largely their picture. They remained a metallic band for probably the most half. Metallica and Megadeth, for certain, survived it. We tailored and survived it. A few of our contemporaries simply stayed the course and, consequently, their enterprise acquired smaller for an additional 10 years, till the 2000s got here round.”

Ellefson additionally recounted the cultural shift throughout Ozzfest ’98, the place Megadeth was sandwiched between acts like Limp Bizkit and Tool. He noticed the stark distinction between the rising nü metallic fashion and their very own, conventional metallic picture.

“Dude, I keep in mind doing fuckin’ Ozzfest ’98. And this was the second for me. So that you discuss Seattle second. However for me, the second was Ozzfest ’98. So our showtime was normally 6 p.m. each evening. And headliners, clearly, was Ozzy , then it was Tool, then Megadeth, after which proper earlier than us was Limp Bizkit, and I forgot who else earlier than us, however positively the tides had been turning. And so, Limp Bizkit was up there flushing cardboard cutouts of Spice Ladies down their huge rest room that they’d as a stage prop, everyone’s acquired dishevelled garments they usually’re form of doing, form of the Korn… The physique language moved, it modified huge time — form of extra gangster, hip-hop form of factor. After which we come out in our skinny denims and we’re headbanging, and it is, like, ‘This simply feels very bizarre.’ We’re sandwiched between Limp Bizkit and Tool. And I keep in mind, me and Marty Friedman, we would exit and watch Tool. I cherished them. I assumed they had been nice. It was mesmerizing. To me, they had been just like the modern-day Rush 2112 form of vibe. It was very non-mainstream, form of virtually Pink Floyd-ish. I used to be mesmerized by it, simply how fricking cool it was. So, I acquired it. I’ve all the time tailored to new stuff that was popping out. So I assumed it was actually cool. Then, after all, Ozzy would come out. However it was simply this bizarre cultural shift that was taking place throughout that point.”

Ellefson expressed a selected fondness for bands that bridged the hole between metallic and grunge, notably Alice In Chains. He additionally appreciated different acts from the period, together with Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, and Pearl Jam, specifically their debut album.

“I feel going again to the grunge factor, the band that we will all agree on, I feel anyone, however particularly metalheads and guitar-player form of bands, was Alice In Chains. They had been simply cool it doesn’t matter what. They kind of received everybody over, whereas Soundgarden, I preferred them. I did not love them. I like Temple Of The Dog. Cornell, him, and Eddie Vedder dueting on that observe. And in addition, earlier than Pearl Jam, Mom Love Bone. What a cool band that was. And, after all, they solely had that second, after which it was over as soon as the singer died. However I assumed Pearl Jam Ten was nice. I imply, that was a kind of nice, nice albums. High to backside, it is only a nice file. I feel in all probability for our style, it’s important to kind of take your metallic hat off and simply take heed to it as music.”